Kings Cross Station (London)

It is situated in Euston Road, which was constructed in the 19th century and known as the New Road. The early lines entering London from the North stopped short of the City, and termini were constructed along this road, including Euston Station and the nearby St. Pancras Station.

The station, with its famous functional facade, was opened in 1852, and the architect was Lewis Cubitt. The clock on the tower was exhibited at the Great Exhibition.

The adjoining Great Northern Hotel was opened in 1854.

Kings Cross Station is built in an area previously known as Battle Bridge, and Boudicca, whose rebellion flattened the Roman cities at Colchester, St. Albans and London, is believed to be buried beneath one of the platforms.

The name "Kings Cross" comes from a memorial to George IV which stood for several years at the Northern end of Grays Inn Road.

The station became famous for the romance of leaving London in the evening on the "Flying Scotsman" and arriving in Edinburgh the next morning.

In recent years, devotees of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling know that the "Hogwarts Express" leaves from a platform which most of us cannot see or find.

In 1987, 31 people were killed in an underground fire which started on an escalator.

Kings Cross St. Pancras Underground station, shared with the neighbouring terminus, has a bewildering number of lines. It is used by the Circle Line, Hammersmith and City Line, Metropolitan Line, Northern Line, Piccadilly Line and Victoria Line.